{"product_id":"byzantine-bronze-ring-kalothea-10th-13th-c-quatrefoil-bezel","title":"Byzantine Bronze Ring - 'Kalothea' (10th–13th c. CE) EU 48 \/ US 4.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA small cast bronze ring of the Middle Byzantine tradition, named 'Kalothea', its circular bezel incised with a four-petalled rosette and its shoulders finely hatched. The piece is compact and quietly expressive, its dark green patina lending weight to a modest, workshop-made form.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Bronze (likely)\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 48 \/ US 4.5\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Intact, with multi-layered green and grey patina; engraving clearly legible; minor surface irregularities consistent with age.\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: From a private Belgian collection, acquired between the 1960s and 1990s\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-98-B\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRestoration and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis piece is preserved in its untouched state, showing natural aging and patina from centuries of burial and wear. For those who prefer a refreshed look, a professional restoration service is available, reviving original detail while respecting historical integrity.\u003cbr\u003eIf you’d like to book a restoration, simply add the restoration option along with your order or book it as the additional product in my shop.\u003cbr\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eCast bronze rings with integral circular bezels and simple incised devices were widely produced during the Middle Byzantine centuries, often as everyday personal adornments rather than commissioned fine work. The quatrefoil or four-petalled rosette is a recurring motif on rings of this type and may have carried decorative or possibly apotropaic meaning. Whether such a ring functioned as a seal is not always clear; no reversed lettering is present here, though the raised-rim bezel could in principle have taken an impression in soft material.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy This Piece?\u003cbr\u003e'Kalothea' pairs an unmistakably vernacular hand with a clearly legible motif, offering collectors a compact, characterful example of Middle Byzantine metalwork. Its small size and quiet geometry make it an appealing study piece for those drawn to the everyday jewellery of the era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63602969903434,"sku":"R-98-B","price":200.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/byzantine-bronze-ring-kalothea-top-view-of-circular-bezel-with-four-petalled-ros-2.jpg?v=1789810985","url":"https:\/\/auroraantiqua.com\/products\/byzantine-bronze-ring-kalothea-10th-13th-c-quatrefoil-bezel","provider":"Aurora Antiqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}